Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.

This 'feature' often causes problems for Help Desk staff, as users are unable to locate icons needed to activate some remote desktop connections (as well as volume controls and other useful tools). I make a habit of clicking the 'always show all icons...' option. It makes no sense to provide user toolls - and then hide them.

Mike
November 13, 2011 1:53 AM

The link Customize... in the little popup that appears when you click the triangle to the left of the notification area leads to the same window as the customize... button in the taskbar properties dialog, at least on Windows 7.

Apparently not all Windows 7's. I got a slightly different and less powerful version on my demo Win 7 machine. But, if it looks like what's pictured in the article, go for it.

13-Nov-2011

Ravi Agrawal
November 15, 2011 9:29 AM

I don't know what OS the OP is using but I think Leo, you have probably forgotten to mention one more thing i.e. that the volume icon may have inadvertantly be turned off. So even if Windows is set to show all icons, the volume icon may still not be visible.

The same can be turned on under Multimedia (or sound) applet settings in Control Panel.

I think a previous article of yours mentions how to do that.

I am writing this comment from my mobile phone, so unable to post any links or perform searches with respect to the same.

This is from another true appreciator of your simply wonderful written content.

Thanks and take care.

Ravi.

Tony
November 15, 2011 10:09 AM

Just to add to the comment by Ravi. Under both Home and Professional versions of XP there is an item in the Control Panel called Sounds and Audio Devices. Clicking on that reveals a tick box which if UNticked removes the icon from the Notification Area.
Also... I have found several Audio DRIVERS that do or have something similar!? So maybe these should also be reviewed via the Control Panel.
Cannot comment on Vista or W7?
Tony

Glenn P.
November 15, 2011 1:34 PM

Hey Leo -- Tony's right.

Quickest way for the Original Poster to check in Windows XP Pro, is to first click Start, then click Run, and then type MMSYS.CPL into the resulting "Open:" dialog, and click "OK".

In the resulting Sounds and Audio Devices Properties page that then pops up, make sure that the checkbox marked Place volume icon in the taskbar (in the middle of the Volume tab sheet) is checked.

Hope this helps!

Theresa
November 15, 2011 2:01 PM

hi, I had an auto fill on my toolbar that disappeared and I'm unable to locate it. This has happened before...not having to fill out forms really makes life easier!! you are an absolute necessity to computer people!!! Thanks Theresa

Martin
November 15, 2011 5:22 PM

Leo, you are a life saver. You have forever solved the mystery of the missing icons on my XP system. In the past I have always been able to restore the icons but it was a hassle. You have made the process very simple.

I do have one question. When I reviewed the list of programs for the notification area, I found several programs listed that had been removed from my system a long time ago. How do I remove those programs from my notification area.

thanks!!!!!

Mark J
November 16, 2011 12:09 AM

@Martin
If they are in the notification area, they are still running on your computer. I'd check in Add/Remove programs and try uninstalling them again. If that doesn't work I'd try Revo uninstaller.Revo Uninstaller - Uninstall Things That Won't

Jeanette Gonzales
November 16, 2011 11:50 AM

Leo, I am running Firefox browser, O S Windows X P and I do not have a small triangle in my notification
area or a small arrow that you can "click" to increase the print size as I once had using IE, even after following your diagram for Windows X P, also when I clicked on "Customize" in the diagram I get no response. Why is this
Thanks for all your help.

Mike
November 16, 2011 5:11 PM

Check out the following link for some other suggestions for XP and Vista: http://www.ehow.com/how_4667764_volume-control-windows-system-tray.html. Couple of years ago, I know I was able to restore the volume icon on my old XP machine by downloading a registry fix linked to that site @ http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm.

Ian Roberts
November 18, 2011 1:22 PM

Your response to the request for help with a missing volume icon didn't go far enough. It didn't address the question of what to do next when your suggestions didn't apply/didn't work, which is my situation.
Any more ideas?

Donna
November 20, 2011 5:13 PM

I have tried all of the suggestions, but am unable to turn on the volume control. The box where one does that is grayed out and I am not able to change it from off to on. The volume works fine, the icon is simply missing and I am not able to turn it on.

Bruce Snider
November 22, 2011 7:03 PM

(Windows XP) EVERY time I start Windows, the volume icon is gone from the notifications area of the task bar. I have to open the control panel > Sounds and Audio devices. Then I un-check the Show Volume Control box, then "Apply" then I re-check the box and click "Apply" and the icon is back. Every - Single - Time. Darned annoying.

Ed Weston
November 22, 2011 8:59 PM

Thanks, I chose all icons, all the time. I am still getting used to W7, and take delight in learning these gems that help me regain control of Windows, which wants to do more and more thinking for you, with each new version.

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